Railway-signal fusee plug



April 15,1930. F. DUTCHER 1,7 4,983

RAILWAY SIGNAL FUSEE PLUG Filed Nov. 7, 1927 Patented Apr. 15, 1930 FRANK IDIIVIICHER OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA RAILWAY-SIGNAL FUSEE PLUG Application filed November 7, 1927. Serial No. 231,611.

Commercially manufactured fusees to my knowledge have always had the plugs that carry the spike secured in the end of the fusee tube by means of glue or cement.

From my experience of more than twenty 5 years in the manufacture of railway signal fusees it has been difficult to secure the plugs in the ends of the fuses tubes in a mannerto stand the test of railroads by means of glue or cement. As a consequence a great deal of thought and time has been given to the securing of these plugs in fusee tubes and a number of Ways have been devised with the end of substantially permanently securing the plug in place.

In carrying out my present invention I provide the plug atits inner end with a disk having an expandible periphery that when the plug is pushed in the end of the tube, the expanding periphery of the disk engages the inner wall of the tube and makes substantially a permanent hold so that the plug can not be removed when subjected to any of the tests of railroads. One of the tests to which railroads subject the plugs or fusees to determine whether they are properly fastened is to subject them to a pull of seventy pounds. This improvement withstands a pull or more than one hundred and eighty pounds without being removed, and without the aid of any glue or cement.

This invention also pertains to providing means for inserting the plug in the end of the fusee tube, said means also serving as a protection to the exposed pointed end of the spike and serving to prevent injury from the spike to railroaders or others having use for the said fusee, as will be particularly described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View partly in longitudinal section of a fusee with my improved plug attaching means shown in position.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the lower end of the tube. the periphery of the disk being shown in the position assumed by it as the plug is being pushed in the tube.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, the periphery of the disk being shown in its expanded holding position.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing one form of the improved disk with its periphery being notched to form a plurality of pointed projections.

Figure 5 is a view showing the periphery of the disk provided with only four pointed projections.

Figure 6 is a detached perspective view of the means for surrounding the spike and serving as means to insert the plug in the tube and as a means to prevent anyone from being injured by the said spike.

In the drawings:

Numeral 1 is a fusee tube into the open lower or outer end of the tube the plug 2 is placed.

Ordinarily this plug is fastened in the end of the tube through the intervention of glue or cement.

My present improvement consists in pro riding the inner end 01": the plug with a disk 3 having an'expanding periphery formed 01 pointed notches or projections l. This disk is provided with a centrally located opening 5 through which the usual spike 6 is passed and is driven through the plug 2. The ends of the plug are tapered as shown at 7 V whereby the periphery projections 4 are flexed inward as the plug is being placed in the fusee tube 1. The disk preferably has its pointed projections 4 slightly bent inward from the tapered portion 7 of the plug whereby its insertion in the fusee tube is facilitated.

For the purpose of convenience in manufacturing both ends of the plug are tapered as shown at 7 so that in assembling the parts no care is necessary in selecting any particular end of the plug at the time of applying the disk and the spike to it.

In Figure 4 the disk is shown as being provided with a plurality of pointed projections struction in Figure.

4. However I desire tobe understood that the periphery of the disk may be provided with as many pointed projections as desired. For instance in Figure 5 the number of pointed projections may be reduced to four, and the number may be varied from four to the complete periphery as shown in Figure In Figure 5 the fourpointed' projections 4 are shown, and in operation it is the same as that described in connection With the con- By reference to the drawings, it will be noted that I show means that serve a double purpose. It consists of a tubular portion 8 that fits around the plug 6 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. This tubular member preferably has a longitudinal split. 9 whereby the tubular 'member surrounds the spike 6 with spring tension whereby when it is on the spike, it will remain for the purpose of preventing anyone. handling the fusee being 1nj med by the pointed end thereof. Preferably this tubular member 8 is of a length to prevent the point 6 from engaging a metal end 9 that'is fastened in any manner in the end of the tube ,8. With the parts in the position shown in Figures 1,2 and 3, thistubular member is adapted for pushing the plug 2 into the-end of the tube'l by resting its head portion 9 and then pushing on the tube when the plug will be forced into properposition within the tube. Those skilled in this art understand that fusees are provided with a lighting end 10 andthe tubes are filled from the plug end. "Usually the combustible ma-.

terial 13 in the tube'substantially completely fills it and then a portionofthls packed .ma-

terial is drilled or removed from the end of function, and that is to prevent per-sons handling the fuses from being injured by the exposed pointed end of the spike, It iscommon for railroad men to carry these fusees in their pockets and it often happens that they injure themselves by being scratched by this r u y pointed end, and somet mes 1t amounts to a serious matter. Again in carrying the fusees in their pockets or even in their hands and running -down'the railroad track, they are liable to stumble'and very serious injuries hav e caus d by run i g the Sp ked end into the bo y elf-the hand fth p r on f l ing. By providing this protecting member, all injury to those handling the fusees is prevented, and at the same time a convenient tube extending beyond'the pointed means is provided for inserting the plug within the tube. V

This improvement is especially intended for use in fusees where it secures the plug against removal without the use of glue or cement. Glue or cement when the fusee has been in stock along time dries out by ab sorption of the wall of the tube, and the plug hasbeenknown to become loose which makes the fusee useless for the purpose it is intended. I desire it to be understood that modifications of the invention may be made beyond those'me'n'tioned or shown without departing from the spirit and'scope of the invention.

Having thus described'my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1. A railway signal fusee comprising a tube, a plug having at ts; end a disk carrying a plurality of peripheral po nted projections,

the projections normally extending, beyond the plug, whereby when the plug is plaoedin the tube the projections engagethe wall and 7 prevent the removal of the plug. v

2. A railway signal fusee comprising a tube, a plug having at .its inner enda disk with peripheral projections, and a spike pass-. 'ing through the said disk, whereby when the plug is placed in the tube the projections engage theinner wall'oftlie tube and prevent the removal of the plug.

3. A railway: signal fusee comprising a tube, a plug having its end tapered, of a disk applied to the end of the plug having an expanding andcontracting periphery normally larger than therenfd off the plug,. the parts operating as described.

4- A railway signal fusee comprising a tube having at one end a plug: with a projecting spike having its outer end pointed, of a tube surroundingthespike, the said tubehavinga longitudinal slit whereby it is' held by spring action on the-said spike, the

end thereof for the purpose specified.

5. A railway signal fusee comprising a tube having at one end a plug carrying aprojjecting pointed spike, of a tubular member surrounding the said spike with its end proecting' beyond the pointed end whereby the tubular member can beused as -means for pushing the plug within the tube without danger of injury to the workmen.

' 6-. A ailway signal fuse compr s g a tube having at one end. a plug with aproj ectg pointedspike, of a bula 'me ber su rounding the said spike and extending be yond its pointedend, the outer extremity of the tubular member having a plug whereby the first plug may be forced, into the tube and persons handling the fusee protected; from in ury by the pointedend of the said spike.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ialffix my signature. Y

FRANK DUTOHER 

